Round 19: Sydney Swans Reserves v Gold Coast Suns Reserves @ Sydney Cricket Ground

[WauchopeAnalyst]

Well done Ludwig. I stated that Jake would like look a fair player about 3 months ago and nobody noticed. Well picked Ludwig.

[Buffalo]

[QUOTE=Ludwig;679467]A good hard contest from both sides and a good win given we lost our 2 best midfielders early on.

I had to edit my reply...twice. Definitive insight. I love this blog. No, really I do, but what I'd love more is a well-rounded approach to the pitfalls and upswings of the game and how they impact all of our 'hopeful to be' players. It seems to me there's always a lot of swinging. We tend to look for what's wrong and not what's going right. Here it comes ... UGH!!!!
AND LET ME JUST SAY... WELL DONE, BOYS!!! Oh, wait, did I just say something reasonably nice? Shoot me.

[troyjones2525]

So who comes in for Parker, Laidler and perhaps Heeney ressies watchers?

[Chookbilly]

Longmire just mentioned Robinson broken collarbone and Hewitt concussed. Will be interesting who comes in with parker out and injury clouds hanging over laidler, rohan, heeney.

[Flying South]

So who comes in for Parker, Laidler and perhaps Heeney ressies watchers?

I reckon you might add Hannebery to that list. I suspect he might have broken or fractured ribs.

[ugg]

They'll pick from Jones Rose Towers and Marsh. Richards Nankervis have some merit but wouldn't fit in the structure.

[MattW]

Interesting that Rampe moved into the midfield after Parker went down, and drew a compliment from Longmire in the presser. Perhaps he'll stay there next week and Jones will take the spot in the backline.

[crackedactor]

Lewis melican

A good hard contest from both sides and a good win given we lost our 2 best midfielders early on.

Perris and Newman both have a good feel for the game and make the right decisions more often than not. It's a very valuable attribute.

I liked the effort of both Jones and Towers. Jones will definitely become a very good player. Towers is not without a chance if he keeps working hard, but has to improve his marking and kicking skills.

I'm feeling better about Xav coming into our defence at some time. I think he will make it. Not as sure about Aliir, but he's worth persisting with. It may take another 2 years before learns the game enough to play at the highest level.

Didn't see much of Melican, but his pace alone is something to get excited about. Just what our defence needs.

Happy enough to see Davis playing in the midfield at this point of his career. I think he has the right mix of talent and nous to become a good forward in due course.

McClaren is not a forward. He might be okay as a defender. Perhaps it's good training for him to play forward at this point in his career.

As mentioned before, I liked what I saw in Brown. Looks promising for a 17 yo.

Nankervis will be a good ruckman in a couple of years. Maybe Mummy version 2.0

Given the relatively shallow draft this year, I'd be inclined to keep Marsh another year if we have the room on our list.

Just on Lewis Melican, I was shocked when Tom Harley said he is definitely good enough to play senior football. Do you agree?

[ugg]

Interesting that Rampe moved into the midfield after Parker went down, and drew a compliment from Longmire in the presser. Perhaps he'll stay there next week and Jones will take the spot in the backline.

Forgot to add Newman to the list of possibles. He could take Laidler's spot

[Ludwig]

Just on Lewis Melican, I was shocked when Tom Harley said he is definitely good enough to play senior football. Do you agree?

Melican has played so little footy for us it's difficult to be definitive, but he's got that look of a good football player. His closing speed is really impressive and he looks to have the other parts of his game on a good track. Maybe we will learn more over these last few weeks of the season.

[Ampersand]

Awful timing for Hewett, he might have had a good shot at a senior debut.

[ugg]

Best player: D.Towers, H.Marsh, Z.Jones, A.Davis, X.Richards, T.Derickx

[ugg]

[Primmy]

Best player: D.Towers, H.Marsh, Z.Jones, A.Davis, X.Richards, T.Derickx

We agree then ugg.

I rather think that X is slipping under the radar a bit. He is so self contained and in control of his space that I am mightily impressed. He is so like ted in the way he moves, an unlikely and unexpected transitional change I think.

I also rated Allir Allir a bit. He has such safe hands. I am sure disposal will improve, its still reliably wayward.

Newman in for Laidlaw? Wouldn't really argue against it. The kids trust him and he does good stuff.
Deano is a cut above the ressies, but still in the lower ranks of the 1s. But he is interesting. He keeps a steady graph of improvement each week. His reading of the play is developing nicely.
Loved watching Jones organising the toppies etc. He is a natural leader, has a loud voice too, knows what he is about most of the time. Disposals not so impressive, but he is right in it.
Don't mind Marsh at all. Wouldn't like to lose him.
Robbo.....Robbo........um. When he plays ressies he is a bit of a pain (sorry, calling it as I watched it). He takes on what he shouldn't and spoils other better advantaged players, and plays. I like his enthusiasm, but it also has a whiff of desperation. I am sorry he has been injured but perhaps it will give him a bit of 'time out' to reassess and come back with an attitude shift. Hope so.

Not many of the Swans ressies we didn't keep in the past have stayed afloat in the system have they.

One thing that bothers me a bit. We don't have much speed in the ranks. Not enough anyway.

Kudos to the Ressies persistence and attitude tho.

[liz]

Surprised not to see Perris' game acknowledged by the coaching staff. He was my best Swan. Starting modestly but seemed to get better as the game went on, and I thought he was the main reason why the team won - not only his late goal, but the fact he played like he believed the Swans were never out of it.

Enjoyed Newman's game too. Looks like he's ready to see if he's up to the next level.

And a special nod to all the toppies who played. In seasons past, the success of the team has largely been due to having some quite impressive toppies, as well as continuity. This year, whether through policy or necessity, we've seen a lot of players rotated through the team, and I'd guess a lot of them are younger, in average, than in past years. Many have not looked like they believed they belonged out there. I thought yesterday's group held their own well, and took responsibility for being part of the team, not just making up numbers. Others have mentioned Brown, and he was the stand-out. Not sure whether he's got any stand out attributes that suggest he might make it to the list in time, but he was a very valuable contributor out there. Behagg was a presence too, and took his opportunities in the forward line well. And no 55 (not sure who that was) caught my eye a couple of times too.

Finally, a word on young Kelly. He didn't inject himself into the play very often, but when it was his turn, he certainly went. I don't know if the Suns deliberately targeted him physically (as by far the smallest player out there) but he certainly got crunched a couple of times. He looks like he has Dad's courage, and maybe a smidgeon of his pace too. The obvious drawback with him is his size - not height, he's tall enough, but just how slight he is. I know PK was a skinny kid when he first arrived at the Swans, but was he ever that slight?